Regional MP urges electoral changes

Former Labour Minister Meg Munn blamed "administrative blunders" for some of her constituents in Sheffield Heeley being turned away and denied the chance to cast their vote in the General Election.

Problems also hit voters in Sheffield Hallam, with voters being turned away and doors locked at 10pm because of long queues.

"Electoral administration sparked much discussion following incidents that arose during the recent General Election," she told MPs. "In total, many hundreds of people were denied their vote – something we should take seriously and should ensure cannot happen again.

"In my constituency on election day, a number of people were unable to fulfil their democratic right to vote. At one polling station in Woodseats, people who were queuing to vote in the general and local elections were turned away at 10pm and the doors were locked, not because they had turned up late or were not on the electoral register, but because of administrative blunders.

"That polling station was responsible for 2,772 electors, but it had been allocated only one presiding officer and two poll clerks to officiate.

"The acting returning officer later disclosed that there had been queues throughout the day and that extra assistance had been provided, but obviously not enough."

People were also turned away in Sheffield Hallam and in Leeds, she said. Problems were seen across the country.

Ms Munn said the country's electoral administration system should be "comprehensively" modernised, including allowing people to cast their votes up to five days before election day.